‘Hunting’

 Hunting is extremely popular in South Dakota.  People come from all over the country and it’s great for the economy, since this is such a poor state.  You can get quite an arsenal from the hunting shops including camouflage gear.  The motto of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is : “Teach youth to care, take time to share”.  The following game can be hunted:  Pheasant, Grouse, Gray Partridge, Quail, Cottontail rabbit, Squirrel, Mourning Dove, snipe, sand hill Crane, ducks, geese, coot Tundra swan, coyote, red fox, gray fox, skunk, raccoon, badger, bobcat, opossum, mink, weasel, beaver, muskrat, prairie dog, gopher, crow, jackrabbit, ground squirrel, porcupine, marmot, wild turkey, deer and elk.

Here is a snippet of the more ‘interesting’ laws:

South Dakota law prohibits the issuance or renewal of any hunting or fishing license if an individual owes $1000 or more in past-due child support, unless the individual enters into a repayment agreement with the Department of Social Services.

Disable Hunter permits may be granted :

·        persons unable to step from a vehicle without crutches or wheelchair may qualify for a permit to shoot from a stopped vehicle

·        persons who have lost an arm or use of an arm, or are confined to a wheelchair, may be eligible for a crossbow permit

·        residents who are at least 12 years of age may apply for or buy licenses and may hunt in any open season beginning September 1 provided they have successfully completed the Huntsafe program and possess a HuntSafe card.

Civil damage liability:

·        Besides criminal penalties, person illegally taking, killing or possessing games birds, game animals or game fish may be civilly liable to the State for damages in the following amounts:  $1000 for each deer, antelope or bobcat, $5000 for each elk, buffalo or mountain lion, $10000 for each mountain goat or bighorn sheep, $100 for each game bird and $200 for each wild turkey

·        General laws:
No person may use aircraft to hunt, drive or spot game

·        No person my use a snowmobile to chase, harass or disturb any wild life.

·        No person by send or receive a message by radio, cellular telephone, or other electronic form of communications while in a motor vehicle for the purpose of hunting big game, small game or migratory waterfowl.

Protected animals

·        The following mammals are on the endangered list: wolf, swift fox, black bear, black-footed ferret and river otter.

·        No person may kill non game birds except English sparrows, pigeons, starlings, blackbirds, grackles, crows and magpies.

Trespass

·        No person may hunt or trap any species of game on private land without permission from the owner.

General restrictions:

·        No person may take migratory game birds with trap, snare, net, crossbow, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance, with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells

·        By using records or tapes of migratory bird call or sounds or electrically amplified imitations of birdcalls, except for crows

·        Deer and antelope:  Shoulder held firearms using ammunition factory-rated to produce at least 1000 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, and handguns using ammunition that is factory rated to produce at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.

Hunter safety tips

·        Be sure of your target and be aware of what is between you and the target and beyond the target.

Hunter ethics

·        We must place the ethical pursuit of game above the kill.  We must have an unshakable commitment to wildlife, the land and all resources.

·        Remember, kids may listen to your words, but they will learn more from your actions.

·        Take an active role in conservation.

·        It’s not just anti-hunters and animal rights activists we need to impress with our ethical behavior, but the average South Dakota citizen.

……………….. mmmmmmmmmmmmm   “food for thought”